Crimson Dusk Chapter 12 Trust

It had been days now since they had left what still remained of the Marin's home. Along the way they had fought the occasional vampire and to Nick's surprise, other creatures he had only ever read about in stories. Wolves with no mind other than to kill. Bigger than the average wolf. Wolves that stood on all fours like the primitive days. Judy had called them Lykans or Werewolves. She had gone on to tell him that some still had their minds while others went mad with the change from what ever mammal they had been to werewolves. Those who went mad were the blood thirsty ones, they didn't know what was wrong with them, they were scared, they were constantly on defense with only one thought in mind: survive. They especially reacted to other predators like vampires like herself or Nick who had untapped power within him-he was shocked to hear-and the normal predators who had no ties to the supernatural world and were just living their lives. To slay them was mercy she'd said.

Next were a species called Aputhians. Ashen skinned, pointed eared, long muzzled creatures without fur, sunken in features, and empty eye sockets. The creatures looked like something straight out of nightmares and to hear Judy tell it, fed on those nightmares. Many times their influence would kill their victims due to the Aputhians strengthening the nightmares so much that the victim would die of fright or a heart attack whilst asleep. She had yet to hear of or see even one Aputhian that would try to avoid killing it's victim or so she told him. She'd even killed a few in the act of nearly killing their victims. Because of that admission he learned that she could go into a mammal's mind and change their thoughts or dreams which raised his suspicions of her. He was now more adamant than ever that the nightmare he'd had where he was burning at the stake had either been her work or an Aputhian's. Seemed the creatures were good at stealth too, they were another type that could bend shadows to their will. No one knew where they came from, though many speculated that they were fallen angels once.

Nick made a mental list of both to inform the great church of Emperyan about it as soon as he was able. There were creatures that they hadn't even heard about and needed to be aware of. Creatures that were just as deadly and impure as a vampire. But at least with the appearance of the Lykan he had regained the possession of his katana. He'd needed the blade that was made of silver, Judy had told him there was no other way to bring down a Lykan other than to rip it apart limb by limb. It didn't take a genius to know that she had learned that from experience.

Now they both stood staring up at the unfinished remnants of what would have been a church on the outskirts of the Sahara District. It was little more than an outward shell though Nick knew from previously passing through that there were still rooms inside that had been finished. Those rooms would provide Judy shelter from the sun which would rise in only a matter of a couple of hours. But even as he made a move towards the front she didn't move a muscle other than to snap her eyes to him which made him pause and turn to look at her again with a frown. She responded with a narrowed gaze and a frown of her own, her eyes flashing to a violet glow, daring him to move toward it again. It confused him as he looked from her, to the entrance, and back at her to see that she was now full on glaring at him. That was when he understood.

"I see.." he said and sighed. He looked back to the entrance again and then back to her, noticing immediately that her expression hadn't changed. "It was never finished, Judy. It was never blessed. This ground is not consecrated."

She looked away from him then and to the entrance before her fur rose up on the places he could see and he frowned again before taking her paws in his. Her eyes snapped back to him at that and he gave her a reassuring smile as he took a step back toward the entrance while keeping his eyes on her. She resisted, only moving with him involuntarily as he pulled her nearer to the church and all the while her fur continued to stand up more and more. It wasn't until they had actually gotten to the entrance that she pulled her paws away forcefully and stepped back, nose twitching and eyes glaring.

"You tell me that it is not blessed but I can feel an odd current going through me."

"I speak the truth, Judy. There is no blessing, it has to just be in your mind. Even my teachings plainly state that consecrated ground can do no harm to vampires, it merely makes you uncomfortable."

Judy just stared at him for several quiet moments, the only sound around them being that of cicadas buzzing. In that time, Nick felt his own fur standing up on his neck from her prolonged gaze and the unspoken threat there before a pressure in his head alerted him that she was reading his memories again. To speed the process along he brought forth the memory of that particular teaching and watched as she came to accept it. Before his eyes her form relaxed again and the glow of her eyes faded to their normal violet and taking that as a cue, he turned to walk into the husk of the church. A grip on his arm made him pause again right after and turn his eyes to her. She was looking past him into the church and he knew that she was still unsure. He placed a paw on the paw that was holding his arm and smiled again when she looked up at him before moving forward and this time she followed behind him.

With her attached to his arm, it was easy to notice when she tensed up again just as they passed through the threshold, but she didn't pull back this time. That fact spoke volumes of how much trust she was putting in him and in his teachings especially when he stopped in the center of the cracked floor and turned to her, discovering her eyes were closed tightly.

"You made it. We are inside," he told her gently.

Her eyes slowly opened then blinked as she looked around, seeing that he was right. She was indeed standing in the center of what was supposed to have been a church once upon a time. Slowly her form began to loosen and relax, the rigidity of her ears relaxing and lowering just slightly as well as the twitching of her nose coming to a stop was the tell. The rest of her followed shortly after as she turned in a full circle and looked around her.

Nick quietly watched her for only moments before he too turned. He scanned his surroundings with hawk like precision, or more accurately, like the fox he was. He knew better than to let himself be so arrogant to think that every immortal would be just as reluctant as she had been to enter into this place. Some were far more bold and it would be foolish to think they were untouchable just because of their location. He would need to train himself a bit more and be sure to be ready for the possibility of attack. It would help of course if he had his katana. But he knew she didn't trust him enough just yet to give him all of his weapons back. It would be a while before she did too he figured.

As he turned back around, he glanced at her, noting her still looking around, but she didn't keep his attention. He had a plot to think about, defense and attack positions in case of attack in the night. There were a few areas where there could be an attack made from a relatively high point. But he didn't have a long range weapon like his crossbow anymore. Throwing knives were out of the question as well. He could throw his dagger easily enough but it would mean he would be left unarmed after. If facing multiple enemies that would be suicide. His best bet was to keep the dagger until he had no choice and hope that he didn't lose his life while using it.

He would have to be right up on an enemy to hit them with a fatal strike. That would leave him vulnerable to a counter attack unless he could get away in time for the corpse to become ashes. He of course still had his claws and teeth which he would use if he had to, but again that would leave him vulnerable as well. He'd just have to be extra careful when fighting. Couldn't forget about the vampire with him either. She was pretty powerful on her own, he'd only seen her brought down once and that was because she'd been distracted by him. With her full focus on her opponent he was sure that very few would live to tell the tale when in combat with her.

It would probably be a wise idea to put up a holy barrier of some kind though. It would be a smart move for sure. The sound of zapping if anything impure tried to breach it would alert them ahead of time. Plus it would incapacitate their foe for a time, how long would depend on if they got through the barrier or how long they allowed themselves to be exposed to it. Best of all, if he did it now before the night truly fell it would give him time to recoup his strength that would wane after he put the barrier up. It was because of that fact that he didn't allow himself to use it very often. Especially now that he had no means to replenish it quickly like he'd normally have when on the hunt. He'd just have to be wise and conserve what energy he could.

"I sense nothing nearby."

His black tipped ears flicked and swiveled toward her voice before his body followed so he could see her. After the succubus she had been sure to let him know whether she sensed anything. Even if she only had a bad feeling of some kind. He could tell that she felt bad to some degree about him nearly becoming a meal to that demon. They'd already had that conversation in the hot springs and again on their way there for a short time. But it still showed that she wore guilt on her shoulders each time she spoke up as she had. That aside though, it was also clear that she'd read or at least heard his thoughts. She had told him several times he thought loudly at times.

"Still better to be prepared and not need it rather than need it and not be prepared," he pointed out, to which she nodded with a soft hum of thought.

They both knew how quickly things could go from calm and peaceful to malevolent and threatening in only seconds. She seemed to be lost in thought now as he watched her so he left her to it and began scanning their surroundings again. There was an old doorway that as he walked closer to it he saw led into the underground. Quite possibly where the crypt was going to be or where they stored food. A quick sniff brought forth no scent of food ruined or good. Only the lingering scent of fairly new, upturned, earth met him, telling him that it had indeed been made with the intent of making a crypt. Either that of a rainstorm from before had disturbed the ground below and created mud. Or worse, some immortals were more bold than he'd first thought and had made it their resting place a time or two. That theory was debunked quickly enough.

"There's no lingering scent or aura of anything as far as I can tell."

He didn't even jump in spite of the fact that he hadn't heard or felt her coming. He wouldn't have known she was there if she hadn't spoken, quite careless of him. His back would have been vulnerable had it been anyone else. Still he turned his head to her as she peered around him into the darkness, letting her eyes glow in a way he was guessing allowed her to see even better.

"Mm, as I thought. Nothing there except for bugs and wet spots from rain," she confirmed and turned a smirk at him.

He returned it before patting the crumbling stone of the archway above their heads and moving on to check other rooms. They'd found where she would be sleeping he knew, probably where he would be too. She seemed to want to keep a close eye on him and she confirmed this when her smirk grew. Oh well, at least he would know someone faster than himself would be watching his back in case of an attack. He in turn would watch hers, that was their agreement after all, well part of it.

He took in deep breaths, sniffing as he walked about in search of food for himself. The jars of food he still had on him would only last for so long even conserving it. He could eat some of the bugs she'd mentioned before too which would give him his protein and other nutrients needed to live. But when he ran out of those what would he do? If he could find some kind of beans he could make it just fine. But he still needed more in his diet than just that. Beans, eggs, milk or other dairy like cheese or bread could help. So would soy and chicken or fish. If they could find a body of water with fish in it he was sure he could catch his own food. For chicken he'd have to raid a farm or go into the cities in disguise to purchase it.

If he had some Laguremosa he wouldn't even need to think about that. The little cubes could feed a mammal for three days and no amount of slaying would make them burn it out of their bodies. They didn't taste all that well, but one did what they had to do as slayers and as priests. Make due and be thankful for what one has, that was one of the many teachings of the Order of Archan. While he was on things that he wished he had though he may as well throw in two others that made slaying just a little easier for those on the field.

Wighor was a potion created to strengthen the mind and keep even the strongest of fiends out of one's mind. That would have really come in handy when it came to the succubus. But it would only make Judy suspicious of him if she couldn't hear his thoughts. Probably better that he didn't have that on him after all now that he thought about it. He would be far too tempted to use it if he had it on him. And he had until she'd taken his weapons and other things from him that first night.

T'Vier was definitely something that would have been useful though. It healed any wound he could possibly get though didn't replenish blood lost in battle or from wounds. The fatal wounds however would still kill as the potion clotted blood into injured areas and stopped bleeding until help could be given to the wounded. But still it was useful, even fatal wounds would clot and at times that could help to save them.

When one had these things on them however they had to be sure not to use them too much. Not to mention not be dumb enough to lose their sense and think themselves invincible just because they had it. There would come a time when they didn't as the main church only sent new supplies of each every few months. They weren't the only branch of slayers after all and the great church Empyrean was over them all. The alchemists of the church were constantly making these valuable items and they had to divide them out evenly to be fair to everyone.

The scent of old bread met his nose at last and he turned in it's direction, following his nose to where it came from. Another doorway, dark below and he caught the scent of moisture like standing water. But beyond that was more scents of more vegetables and even some fruits. Most of it seemed to have gone bad long before then from what he was smelling. But perhaps there had been some that had been jarred up like at the Marin's ruins. Even if not there may be some that hadn't gone bad yet too. Once entering, the smell of mold and rotted foods became stronger, but even while it turned his stomach he began his search.

He could hear Judy shuffling about with him as he looked, probably trying to help him find food, gagging here and there as she went. But after twenty minutes of searching high and low and rifling through mold and rot it became clear they'd have no luck. Nick's ears lowered as he turned to make his way back up the stairs. His stomach turned the whole way from the stronger scent of rot and decay that had gotten worse due to their searching. It was on his claws and clothes now too, but if he remembered this area correctly there was a pond not too far from there where he could wash off.

"You know, Nick I've been thinking. As long as we are in disguise we can go into the city," he heard behind him.

He didn't turn his head, but he didn't have to as she sped up her pace to walk beside him. When she looked at him he could see an almost sheepish look take her features.

"I keep forgetting about your mortality. It has been a lot while since I have been around anyone. Even longer by choice."

He was half tempted to remind her that their agreement had been a reluctant one, but refrained from doing so when her eyes cast down to the cracked floor of the church. She was thinking about Rogan again, he knew and once again anger built within him. It only showed through a frown and through his scent he was sure when she breathed deep and looked at him again. He knew she was about to apologize for the direction her thoughts had taken, the apologetic look on her face told that much, so he interrupted just as her lips parted.

"We will defeat that monster, Judy and once we do you will have a small degree of closure. I do not know if that will ease the pain of the loss of your friends, but it will be a step in healing."

She nodded as she always did and gave him a smile. They spent the rest of the journey to the pond in silence.

That night once they had returned, both as clean as they could be without soap-the barrier already having been made-Nick practiced with the only blade he had and what he was born with. He didn't know that his every movement was being watched by Judy until he swung with his claws and he felt weight settle against his palm. His automatic instinct was to close his fingers around the sensation and he was taken by surprise when he was suddenly looking at the blade of his katana, the familiar feeling of the scabbard welcome against his paw pads.

He turned his head to Judy in surprise and found her watching him with a smile before walking to him and he lowered the sword to his side as she stepped close. He didn't know why his heart beat so fast when she put her padless paws against his chest and leaned in, but excused it as her being a vampire. She didn't stop until she reached his ear, her breath tickling the fur there and her voice almost seeming to caress the appendage.

"I told you, for this to work, trust is needed," she whispered then paused. When she spoke again, her voice was softer a bit reluctant. "Do not make me regret trusting you, Nick."

He felt her paws clench against his shirt and the fur beneath before she moved back then away from him. He could only watch after her silently as she walked back to where she had been before and sat on the floor once again. Only when she was fully seated did he move his eyes away from her and to his returned sword, though he didn't see his blade or his own stunned reflection. What he saw was the violet eyes looking up into his own, eyes that had shimmered softly with tears that he'd thought and been taught she didn't have any longer.